Haas Formula 1 team wants 2016 drivers in place by September

While team principal Gunther Steiner says Haas - which has secured a technical partnership with Ferrari - is not in a hurry to name its drivers, it does have an internal deadline to get the line-up sorted.

"Our plan is to be clear of talks by August/September and then announce them," Steiner told AUTOSPORT.

"The market is getting clearer and a lot of people are getting into contact with us now, because it's both ways.

"We are in no hurry, because we have to see who is on the market, who is doing good and who wants to move.

"And drivers want to see who we are actually. Now they see more and more that we're doing the right things."

Steiner added that while the team is considering American drivers, signing someone with experience in F1 is its priority.

"We are looking at American drivers, but being American doesn't give you an automatic drive," he said.

"If you are good, it's fine. Otherwise if you just pick an American because he's American and you're not successful, it's not good for the driver to start off with.

"It's not good for the team and it's not good for the programme in general, and the country because it is like 'Oh, they cannot get it done.'

"An experienced American would be something different, but there is nobody out there and what we need is somebody who needs to guide us a little bit as well, that we know where we stand.

"We need to have a known factor in this team. The team is new, everything is new, so if you throw in new drivers - if we have a problem we don't know where we got it wrong."

ROSSI WANTS TO PROVE HE IS READY FOR F1

American Alexander Rossi, who is currently driving for Racing Engineering in GP2, has F1 experience having completed Friday practice sessions for Caterham and Marussia.

Speaking about the prospect about Haas joining F1, Rossi told AUTOSPORT: "I'm well aware of Haas coming in next year.

"I think that what will do more than me saying anything is just going out and winning races and being on the podium as much as I can and that'll prove to them that I am ready.

"I know that am ready, but they need the proof so I am more than happy to work towards that and to deliver."